Another Judge Whacks Wisconsin Photo ID Law

A county judge in Wisconsin ruled today that the law backed by Gov. Scott Walker requiring voters to show photo ID is unconstitutional.

The Wall Street Journal reports that Dane County Circuit Judge Richard Niess blocked the law, saying it would unconstitutionally disenfranchise citizens who do not have photo IDs. Addressing claims that the photo ID law would prevent voter fraud, Niess wrote, "fraud is no more poisonous to our democracy than voter suppression."

Last week another judge temporarily blocked the law, which now is on hold until Niess' ruling can be appealed. Meanwhile, the state's Republican presidential primary is scheduled for April 3.

Since tea party Republicans took control of many state legislatures, governorships in 2010, they've been enacting or considering laws to suppress voting among people of color, young voters and senior voters, backed by corporate lobbying groups like the American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC).

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